Feast for heart and stomach in new show at The Q

“YOU might not want to come on a full stomach, The Q warns patrons heading for the opening of its show, “Food,” tomorrow, Wednesday August 27.

No, that’s not because it’ll be stomach-turning but because reportedly there’s a happy sequence in which the audience gets to sample minestrone from Benedict House, bread from Bakers’ Delight Queanbeyan and wine from The Royal Hotel.

Fear not, they say, it’s all in keeping with the story, but I don’t imagine too many people will be complaining.

Kate Champion’s company Force Majeure is a ground-breaker in dance theatre and in this case joins Sydney’s Belvoir Theatre to create what they’re calling “a true fusion of the elements of movement-based performance and the theatre.”

Fascinating for theatregoers is that this is the first time a Force Majeure production has had a real script, written by actor-playwright Steve Rodgers, who co-directs the show.

Briefly, on a stretch of Australian highway, two sisters run their family takeaway joint. Chiko Rolls and reminiscing are on the menu. While they quietly wage war with their past and dream up a brighter future, a young life-loving Turkish traveller arrives with a charm and sensuality that turns their world around.

The sisters transform their rundown fast-food stop into a restaurant showcasing Elma’s gift for comfort cooking. Audience members become restaurant guests as the sisters serve up Elma’s minestrone soup, sourdough and local wines.